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Judges and Ruth: Anarchy and Faithfulness

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Judges (Judges 1–3)
    19 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Judges (Judges 4–8, 13–16)
    27 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    A Divine Judge and Anarchy (Judges 9–12, 17–21)
    20 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Ruth the Moabite (Ruth 1–4)
    15 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Lovingkindness in Ruth (Ruth 1–4 review)
    15 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

The story of Judges is a spiral of violence and faithlessness. Take the life of Samson as an example. Dr. Robert Polzin has offered a summary that draws out the absurdity of retribution in Samson’s life: 

Source: Robert Polzin, Moses and the Deuteronomist, 1993, p. 188.

PhilistinesSamson
The Philistines want Samson for slaughtering their own people;but he had done this because they had killed his wife and father-in-law;
but they had done this because he had burned their fields;but he had done this because his father-in-law had given away his wife;
but he had done this because Samson had gotten angry and left;but he had done this because his wife had given the riddle’s answer to her kinsmen;
but she had done this to avoid being burnt up by them …

The rhythm of Samson’s story has an almost comical feel to it. Samson enters a spiral not only of retribution but also of stupidity. We might be very unlike Samson in the heroic aspects of his story, but we’re just as susceptible to patterns of retaliation and hostility that push us further from peace and sanity. 

  1. Think of a time in your life when you were involved in a negative spiral. Did you seek retribution instead of peace? Did the mistakes or wrongdoing of others become an excuse for your own bad behavior? What broke the cycle? Describe in your workbook.